A Different, but Rewarding Week!

 My dad and stepmom got to finally come to visit us, after not having been here for about 18 months. With Covid, and Mary Lou's breast cancer, it made travel difficult for them. After flying Southwest and having a cancellation on one of their flights, they finally made it to our house 12 hours after they were originally supposed to (24 hours for them of being at an airport or in an airplane!)

Since they ended up coming Monday at 2 am and were planning on leaving Saturday afternoon, we convinced them to change their flight to Monday so we could spend at least a Sunday with them. The week was very full, as most of our weeks are, but even more full with some different things that aren't usually a weekly occurrence. 

Surprisingly enough, Monday evening wasn't too bad and we all got to go to the cider mill. It was the only time until Sunday that we were all together. 

Cider mill fun!

Didn't plan for this pic to turn out so well!

Tuesday was Austin's last cross country meet. It was all of the middle schools together for one final competition. Austin did well and we saw lots of his friends. It was fun for him to have Grandpa and Grandma, with Erik and me, to cheer him on. He has decided that cross country is not his favorite. He would rather sprint a much shorter distance than two miles, but it definitely helped with his soccer stamina. I'm glad he tried it and I think he'll like track better in the spring. 

Discovery Middle School Boys- Austin is 4th from the right.

They're off!

There were hills on the course, not during practice though!

These two boys are Austin's good friends from church, one from our ward and one from the Canton Ward. Both of their moms happen to be the Relief Society Presidents!

Austin's friends from elementary school, and still in middle school.

Wednesday was soccer practice for the boys, a dentist appointment for Victoria, and a filling for Kai. Many places to go, all around the same time!

Thursday I was in charge of leading Stride, the running group at Miller. Erik's main coach was out-of-town, so she asked me to lead it. I agreed, but knew that it would be tight since Austin and Kai had orthodontist appointments right beforehand and I had to talk to the orthodontist about Austin's loose tooth! (Turns out, it was not too loose, but normal since he is in braces. I had never noticed one so loose before, but they said being in braces makes the teeth more prone to be loose at times as they're moving. I was so relieved because I was kind of freaking out since it was a permanent one!) 

I made it to Stride in time and we even got Austin to his piano lesson and back in time. Luckily, my dad and Mary Lou could help with the driving since I had to be on parent-teacher conferences on Zoom for Austin during his lesson!

Friday was more restful for the adults, but Victoria still had dance, and Kai had color guard. 

We attended Erik's early-morning soccer game on Saturday, did some work projects through the morning, and then attended Austin's soccer game. We're glad Grandma and Grandpa were still here, since that was when they would have been gone. I think the main reason they needed to stay was for the Primary Program the next day during sacrament meeting. 

Erik is a serious player!

Jason plugged away and finished the floor for the sunroom!

Austin has been dubbed as one of the more aggressive players on his team. 

I don't know if it's because we didn't have an official Primary Program last year, or because the kids have all grown so much during Covid, or because this was the first Primary Program that Erik fully participated in, but it was the best, most Spirit-filled program we've ever had! Erik sang all the songs, read his lines, and even wore a suit to church! He also agreed to be one of the greeters before church and hand out programs. It was so nice to have our neighbor Barb there, as well as Grandparents in person and Grandparents on Zoom! My older three got to sing The Armies of Helaman at the end in a medley with the Primary and Youth for I Will Be What I Believe. It was so wonderful and touching. It was seriously one of the best sacrament meetings!

My little greeter! They got special face masks just for the program. They say " I Will Be What I Believe".

Austin takes passing the sacrament very seriously. So happy they were able to grow spiritually, even over the pandemic!

The boy who didn't like pictures!

The rest of the Sabbath was rainy and relaxing, just what we needed! My dad and Mary Lou left Monday afternoon, but it wasn't without another busy morning: Kai getting her wisdom teeth out! She's recovering very well, so I think she can go back to school tomorrow. It was quite the week for her with three appointments dealing with her teeth this past week! 

Puffy cheeks, but doing ok!

We're so glad we could share our busy week with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Mary Lou!

We enjoyed some games with Grandma and Grandpa. And we always have to get a pic of the look-alikes!

Lunch out!